Shortage of gloves at Sassoon hospital?

The notice states that gloves should be used judicially and reused only after being sterilised. It also has mention of the increased price of latex gloves.

Salim Shaikh, a lab technician at the hospital’s blood bank, said the supply of gloves was a little less than usual. “These gloves are reusable so the authorities told us to use them wisely. Moreover, the used gloves are going through a proper sterilisation process.”

By order: The notice pasted in several wards and departments in Sassoon General Hospital

But several nurses and ward boys complained that not all the gloves were sterilised as per the protocol, and several were just washed with water or at times dipped in antiseptic liquid.

“The gloves are washed in water as sterilisation takes time. I am afraid that a patient might contract infection due to use of unclean gloves,” one of the staffers said. “The problem becomes grave when it comes to attending to patients in the surgical and neonatal ward, as they are highly susceptible to infections. Negligence can cost a patient’s life.”

Each ward in the hospital needs over 1,000 pair of gloves every fortnight for various purposes. When the stock is about to be exhausted, the person responsible for replenishing it sends an order to the store about the ward’s requirement.

“After the order is placed, the store hands over the requirement to the ward. Gloves are given in boxes of 100 pairs per box. Though the present stock is depleting fast, we are yet to face any problem,” a ward boy from the casualty ward said.

The other side Sassoon Hospital Medical Superintendent Dr D G Kulkarni said the notices were placed to curb wastage of gloves. “Several staffers use these gloves randomly, thus affecting the stock. So to put an end to this random use, notices were issued,” Kulkarni said.